Department for Transport

Railways: Finance

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of private sector provision on the railway on (a) the public finances and (b) investment in the railways.

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of rail privatisation on (a) investment in the rail network, (b) the performance of the rail network and the quality of services and (c) the public purse.

Claire Perry: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



Since Privatisation annual rail passenger journey growth has averaged almost 4%, compared to 0.58% over the previous 60 years and the number of passenger journeys has more than doubled from 735 million in 1994/95 to 1.6 billion journeys in 2013/14. On a network roughly the same size as 15 years ago there are now 4,000 more services a day, which are all delivered through dynamic private sector stewardship with the flexibility to respond to the needs of passengers. This is reflected in improved passenger satisfaction scores, which are at a higher level now than when these were first collected in the late 1990s. Investment in the rail network is at record levels and the Government’s Rail Investment Strategy will see £38bn spent by Network Rail on enhancing and maintaining the network between 2014-2019. There is no consistent performance measure that has been in place since privatisation so it is not possible to make a meaningful comparison. However, performance in recent years has been higher than it was in the later 1990s, when figures were first available, on a network that is far busier and safer than it was at that time. Private sector train operating companies provide billions of pounds to the public purse. The last 5 franchises let by this Government alone (Thameslink Southern Great Northern; Essex Thameside; InterCity West Coast; South Eastern; InterCity East Coast) are due to pay over £9bn to the Department for Transport over the lives of their contracts.

Shipping: Training

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent on maritime training schemes in each of the last 15 years for which figures are avilable.

Mr John Hayes: The Department’s spending on maritime training since 1998 has been under the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) scheme, as follows: YearTotal SMarT Spend (excluding VAT and management fees)  1998/9£1,889,092 1999/2000£5,860,952 2000/1£6,253,983 2001/2£6,273,857 2002/3£7,349,636 2003/4£8,647,410 2004/5£8,917,440 2005/6£9,339,825 2006/7£9,686,424 2007/8£10,632,375 2008/9£12,089,021 2009/10£14,055,305 2010/11£14,927,531 2011/12£12,112,121 2012/13£11,847,233 2013/14£12,095,160

Shipping

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the size of the British merchant fleet was in each of the last 15 years for which figures are available.

Mr John Hayes: Trading vessels are registered to the United Kingdom (UK) rather than Great Britain. The size of the UK fleet can be measured in several different ways. International law requires that every merchant ship be registered in a country. The UK fleet is typically understood to be vessels that are registered in the UK (‘UK registered’).  UK registered trading vessels of 100 gross tons and over: 1999 – 2013 UK fleetCountGross tonnage (000s)Deadweight tonnage (000s)19993793,2002,74020004174,5793,75720014275,0354,26920024977,1146,68620035879,9719,830200459710,25010,521200560810,91111,591200662911,53612,346200764612,53213,012200867514,16415,009200970116,40517,303200971216,40917,303201066416,11216,646201164316,63617,740201257716,24617,608201350013,61515,192Source: Department for Transport analysis of IHS Global data

Railway Signals: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Phase 1 and 2 modular rail signalling upgrade in North Wales will proceed in 2015.

Claire Perry: I have been advised by Network Rail that the North Wales Coast Line re-signalling scheme will be delivered in 2 phases. Phase 1 between Rockliffe Hall and Llandudno is planned for completion in summer 2016. Phase 2 between Llandudno and Holyhead is planned for completion in CP6 (2019-24).

Railway Signals: Wales

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is of the Phase 1 and 2 modular rail signalling improvement planned to take place in North Wales in 2015.

Claire Perry: I have been advised by Network Rail that the costs of the Phase 1 improvements between Rockliffe Hall and Llandudno is planned for completion in summer 2016 at a cost of £45-50m. Phase 2 between Llandudno and Holyhead is planned for completion in CP6 (2019-24). The scheme is in the early development stages and details about cost and delivery dates will be established up on completion of this development work.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Mrs Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the £30 million Community and Environment Fund set up by HS2 Ltd will be spent on administrative costs for that scheme.

Mr Robert Goodwill: We are currently undertaking an engagement exercise with relevant local authorities and environmental groups to determine the administration and eligibility arrangements for the funds. No decision has yet been made on how administration costs will be funded.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he will announce a decision on the continuance of the Hoo Green to Bamfurlong spur on the proposed route of the HS2; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government will take decisions on how to take Phase Two forward later this year.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency received a completed V5C/3 form from SEAT UK to provide notification of the transfer of a vehicle to a new owner in respect of the sale of vehicle registration number KM06 EUV on 21 February 2002 to Autoworld of Chesterfield.

Claire Perry: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency did not receive a completed V5C/3 from SEAT UK notifying that they were no longer the keeper of the vehicle bearing the registration number KM06 EUV.

Southern

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will refer Southern Railway's operation of the Victoria to East Grinstead line to the Office of Rail Regulation.

Claire Perry: The Department is liaising closely with the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) on a range of issues concerning the performance of Southern Railway’s rail services, which include those on the Victoria to East Grinstead line, to support the delivery of the standard of services that passengers rightly expect.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Housing: Construction

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much has been paid under the New Homes Bonus grant scheme in each region in each year since 2013; and what estimate he has made of the amount likely to be so paid in each year to 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Affordable Housing: Greater London

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated for the building of affordable housing in London in each year from May 2010 to May 2019; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: Greater London

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for how many units of housing planning permission has been granted on sites in London classed as on hold or shelved; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Scotland Office

Oil: Prices

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the effect on employment in Scotland of the fall in the price of oil.

Mr Alistair Carmichael: While sustained lower oil prices are challenging for companies active in the North Sea, it is important to recognise that the industry is cyclical. The majority of operators and investors make their assessments on long term outlooks taking into account potential fluctuations in prices.The UK Government is committed to supporting this vital industry that creates jobs and generates investment. This support includes the full implementation of the Wood Review recommendations and the package of fiscal changes and initiatives announced by the Treasury in early December designed to ease the tax burden on the industry.

Northern Ireland Office

Devolution

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues about the implications for Northern Ireland of the proposals in the Command Paper on the implications of devolution for England, Cm 8969, published on 16 December 2014.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I have regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues, including in relation to the implications for Northern Ireland of proposals relating to devolution elsewhere in the UK. I will continue to liaise with colleagues across Government as any proposals are developed.

Joint Ministerial Committee

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many meetings of the Joint Ministerial Council she has attended since becoming Secretary of State.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I have attended five Joint Ministerial Council meetings since becoming Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

National Crime Agency

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with political parties in Northern Ireland on the National Crime Agency.

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she expects the National Crime Agency to operate in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I have had a number of discussions with the parties about the full extension of the NCA to Northern Ireland, including as part of the recent multi-party talks. Progress ultimately depends on the political parties reaching agreement, and the Justice Minister Mr David Ford continues to lead efforts to secure such agreement energetically and imaginatively. We fully support those efforts; it is not acceptable that Northern Ireland lacks the same protection from serious and organised crime as the rest of the UK.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 217431, if he will make it his policy to record the ethnicity of staff working for companies contracted by his Department.

Jo Swinson: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) seeks to ensure its procurement policy is aligned with wider Government policy as led by the Crown Commercial Service, part of the Cabinet Office. It is not currently BIS policy to request diversity data of the staff working for companies contracted by the Department, but we will keep this option under review.

Productivity

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to increase productivity.

Matthew Hancock: I refer my Rt.Hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 9 December 2014, UIN 217275.

Wind

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate she has made of the mean wind speed in each constituent part of the UK in each month of 2014.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Self-employed: Regulation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on steps to reduce regulatory burdens on self-employed people; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: This Government is committed to reducing the regulatory burden for all businesses. I recently announced that we have saved £10 billion over the last 4 years. For example, the Deregulation Bill will see changes made to health and safety law by removing a requirement for many self-employed people to carry out time-consuming risk assessments.

Construction

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to address problems relating to retention monies and small businesses in the construction industry.

Nick Boles: The issue of retentions is complex and is a symptom of a wider payment culture in the construction industry. Government is working with the industry to address this culture through the Construction Leadership Council, which has developed a payment charter which includes a commitment to zero retentions by 2025. Officials are meeting with organisations from across the construction supply chain to take this forward, as part of a wider discussion about payment reporting requirements.

Estate Agents: Fees and Charges

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to protect consumers from double charging by estate agents.

Jo Swinson: We have worked closely with the Property Ombudsman on this matter. Last month he published specific guidance to estate agents underlining their obligations under the Ombudsman’s Code of Practice which is available at:   http://www.tpos.co.uk/members_index.htm   These obligations include requirements for transparency of information, avoidance of conflicts of interest and fairness to ensure both buyer and seller have the information necessary at the earliest point possible to make the right decisions. Failure to adhere to the Code risks agents being removed from the redress scheme which would result in an estate agent not being legally able to operate.

Wales Office

Electric Cables

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with his (a) ministerial colleagues and (b) his counterpart in the Welsh Government in London on the economic effect of using pylons for electricity transmission and their potential economic effect on (i) taxation and (ii) property values.

Stephen Crabb: Wales Office Ministers meet regularly with ministerial colleagues from the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Welsh Government to discuss a range of issues. In addition, I have previously met with National Grid and been updated on their plans for Wales.

Emergencies

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, who is responsible for the co-ordination of emergency services in the event of a major disaster in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Crabb: I refer the hon Member to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend the Minister for Government Policy and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 5 January 2015.

Department for Education

Schools: Admissions

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children secured a place at their top choice school in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Medway in the most recent year for which information is available.

Mr David Laws: Data on the proportion of children that were made an offer of their first choice school for England was published on 24 June 2014 as part of the Statistical First Release ‘Secondary and primary school applications and offers: 2014’, at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-applications The latest data is for entry into school in September 2014.   The figures for England and the local authorities of Kent and Medway are given below.   Proportion of applicants (%) who received their first choiceprimary or secondary school place, September 2014 entry   PrimarySecondary 2014England87.785.2  Kent84.983.6  Medway85.681.2   Based on offers made on respective national offer days

Schools: Asbestos

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the findings of her Department's review into asbestos management in school buildings; and if she will make a statement.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education is working with stakeholders, experts and the Health and Safety Executive to thoroughly consider the latest evidence, and determine appropriate policy responses. We will provide an update on the management of asbestos in schools shortly.

Ministry of Justice

High Court

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which of his policies or measures have been deemed unlawful by the High Courts in the last four years.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Without incurring disproportionate cost it is not readily possible to distinguish those judicial review cases which were successfully brought against specific policies or measures from the total number of judicial review cases which were successfully brought against the Ministry of Justice. My letter dated 7 January 2015 answering Question 211301 (accessible on www.parliament.uk) sets out the numbers of cases successfully and unsuccessfully brought against the Ministry of Justice in each year from 2010 to 2012.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 213688, tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 6 November 2014 for answer on 11 November.

Mr Shailesh Vara: Question 213688 was answered on 8 January 2015 but I have reproduced it here, for ease. Without incurring disproportionate cost it is not readily possible to distinguish those judicial review cases which were successfully brought against specific policies or measures from the total number of judicial review cases which were successfully brought against the Ministry of Justice. My letter dated 7 January 2015 answering Question 211301 (which can also be found in the Libraries of the Houses and on www.parliament.uk) sets out the numbers of judicial review cases successfully brought against the Ministry of Justice in each year from 2010 to 2012.

Prisons: Offensive Weapons

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) knives, (b) guns and (c) other weapons were seized from people visiting prisoners (i) in total and (ii) in each prison in each year since 2010.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service takes the importation of all weapons into prisons extremely seriously. Prisons deploy a comprehensive range of robust searching and security measures to detect weapons and other items of contraband at the point of entry to the prison. Records of firearms seizures are held centrally, and I can advise that no firearms have been seized from people visiting prisoners since 2010. Specific records of other weapons seized from people visiting prisoners are not held centrally. To provide the information you have requested about other weapon types would involve requesting and examining information held locally at all prison establishments which could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

Prisons: Drugs

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many drug seizures for each illegal substance there were in each prison in each of the last four years.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes the issue of all contraband in prisons extremely seriously and deploys a comprehensive range of robust searching and security measures to detect items of contraband both at the point of entry to the prison and concealed within the prison. We do not tolerate drugs in prison and anyone caught with them will be punished and could face further prosecution. A table showing the number of drug finds in each prison in England and Wales in the period requested has been placed in the House Library Please be aware that all figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.



Drugs found by establishment and type, 2010-14
(Excel SpreadSheet, 98.5 KB)

Just Solutions International

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what Just Solutions International's operating profit or loss has been in each of the last five years.

Andrew Selous: Just Solutions International is not a trading body but is part of the National Offender Management Service. It does not therefore make separate profits or losses.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service

Mrs Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff were employed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service on fine collection in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: Information on the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed by Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) in the area of enforcement of the payments of fines in each of the last five years is set out in the table below.DateTotal number of staff (FTE)31/12/20101541.8431/12/20111819.8731/12/20121513.2431/12/20131382.1830/11/20141352.79Information for 2014 is only available as a snapshot as at the end of November.It is not possible to differentiate on the HR management system between those staff employed in enforcement of court orders as opposed to collection of fines.Enforcement as a separate HMCTS function was not created until June 2011. For data purposes prior to that date, the business code name and hierarchy information has been used to identify staff who work in enforcement. This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. The amount of money collected reached an all time high of £290 million at the end of 2013/14 and collections continue to rise. In 2013/14 the total outstanding balance of financial impositions reduced by £26.7m (5%) in the year.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan

Rory Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK (a) military personnel and (b) civilians have been (i) killed and (ii) wounded in Afghanistan in the last 13 years.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 16 December 2014



Between 7 October 2001 and 17 December 2014, 453 UK military personnel have died on operations in Afghanistan.Information regarding those killed and wounded in Afghanistan is published on the Government's website: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/op-herrick-casualty-and-fatality-tables-released-in-2014. Nine UK civilians have been treated for injuries in Afghanistan or aeromedically evacuated by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). These are included within the published figures. No MOD civilians have died on operations in Afghanistan.

Training

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's (a) military and (b) civilian personnel have graduated from the Major Projects Leadership Academy.

Mr Philip Dunne: Holding answer received on 16 December 2014






An error has been identified in the written answer given on 07 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

As at 5 January 20142015, delegates attending up to and including Cohort 3 of the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) have graduated. In Defence, this equates to 12 MPLA graduates; seven Civilian and five Military personnel.

Mr Philip Dunne: Holding answer received on 16 December 2014



As at 5 January 20142015, delegates attending up to and including Cohort 3 of the Major Projects Leadership Academy (MPLA) have graduated. In Defence, this equates to 12 MPLA graduates; seven Civilian and five Military personnel.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that service personnel who receive compensation payments as a result of injuries on active service are protected from financial exploitation in cases of brain injury; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) provides compensation for illness and injuries, including brain injuries, caused by service from 6 April 2005. All recipients are awarded a lump sum for pain and suffering. In the event of serious injuries, an income stream, known as the Guaranteed Income Payment, is also paid. The Ministry of Defence is legally obliged to pay any AFCS award direct to the claimant. However, as part of the accompanying notification process, injured personnel and their families are advised to obtain independent financial advice. In the case of serious injury, the single Service, the individual, the family and the Veterans Welfare Service work together to protect the long term interests of the individual and their family. Separately from the AFCS, under the Mental Health Capacity Act of 2005, if it is believed the individual lacks the capacity to make financial decisions themselves, it is possible to make and obtain power of attorney which allows nominated individuals to manage the financial affairs of an affected person.

Hyde Park Barracks

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his plans are for the future of Hyde Park Barracks; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence is reviewing whether an alternative home could be found for the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, this enables the current site to be released. If so, work would need to be taken forward in conjunction with the Royal Parks which is the freeholder of the land on which the current barracks are located.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which locations he is considering for the future location of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Anna Soubry: The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment will continue to require a central London location to ensure that its standards of State Ceremonial and Public Duties are maintained.Currently, the Ministry of Defence is considering the feasibility of the Regiment operating from elsewhere within central London, taking full account of its equine requirements and the specific demands of the State Ceremonial and Public Duties outputs.Other sites would be considered only if they meet the regiment's specific needs.

Rfa Arugs

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) patients, (b) health workers and (c) NHS volunteers have received treatment for Ebola on the RFA Argus since that vessel docked in Sierra Leone.

Mr Mark Francois: None. The role of RFA Argus is not to provide treatment for Ebola but to provide logistical lift capability, using her three embarked Merlin helicopters, as well as forming part of the provision of non-Ebola medical care for primarily UK military and Government personnel.

Bahrain

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the strategic need for a British military presence in Bahrain.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Private Military and Security Companies

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will detail (a) the number and (b) the cost of contracts with private security companies in each year since 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iraq

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what issues and on what dates his Department asked the Attorney General for legal advice on matters concerning the UK's detention policy in Iraq from October 2002 to April 2009.

Michael Fallon: By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact and substance of advice from the law officers is not disclosed outside Government.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people of what rank were in the Libyan National Support Element based at Bassingbourn camp; how many there were for each Libyan trainee; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Libyan National Support element based at Bassingbourn numbered eight. It was made up of two Colonels, five Lieutenant Colonels and one civilian.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's internal review of Libyan general purpose training has been completed; whether he plans to place in the Library a copy of that review when it is completed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Libya

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cultural, recreational, heritage and military sites were visited by Libyan trainees from Bassingbourn camp; what the date of each such visit was; how many trainees took part in each such visit; how many UK armed forces personnel took part in each such visit; how many Libyan National Support Element personnel took part in each such visit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Work and Pensions

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the Minister imposed a levy under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments scheme on relevant insurers at 2.2 per cent of the gross written premiums for employers liability insurance policies and not three per cent as anticipated.

Mr Mark Harper: The 3% figure was the maximum percentage of the active employers’ liability insurance market to be levied on the insurance industry to recoup the costs of the scheme. This figure is a cap rather than a set rate. This first year’s levy rate has been based on the estimated costs of the Scheme, extrapolated from only the first seven months of its operation. As this is a demand led scheme, the calculations for the levy are done afresh each year. An upturn in applications to the Scheme would result in a higher levy rate in future years, therefore the levy rate is under continual active review.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what amount has been taken from the benefits recovered by the Compensation Recoveries Unit to subsidise the cost of the levy under the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payments scheme in the first year of its operation.

Mr Mark Harper: Holding answer received on 07 January 2015



 The levy rate has been set to recover the estimated net cost of the first year of the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, including administration costs but excluding the amount expected to be recovered by the Department’s Compensation Recovery Unit. The figures used to calculate the levy are early estimates based on data from only seven months operation of the Scheme, but at this stage around 20% of the payment due under the tariff is being recovered.

Carers: Older People

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department offers to grandparents and other older people who act as kinship carers.

Mr Mark Harper: The important role that grandparents play in supporting their families when looking after their grandchildren is recognised by the Department. Grandparents and older people who act as kinship carers have the same safeguards in place that apply to parents.

Children: Maintenance

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the degree to which assessments for Child Support calculates an individual's assets, to ensure that the assessment is comprehensive.

Steve Webb: The new child maintenance scheme introduced in 2012 applies a broader definition of income to take account of taxable income derived from assets not included in the main calculation. We believe capturing taxable rather than notional income is far more meaningful for parents as well as administratively achievable. There are currently no plans to review this.

Social Security Benefits

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the value of unclaimed benefits in each (a) constituency, (b) local authority and (c) region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Esther McVey: Estimates of benefit take-up are not available at geographies below Great Britain. This is due to the size of the survey sample they are based on and methods used to generate robust national figures. Following a consultation at July 2012 on the future on the “Income Related Benefits: Estimates for Take-Up” National Statistics series, DWP are planning to publish Experimental Statistics on benefit take-up rates. Further details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-201213-experimental  In February 2012 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income Related Benefits: Estimates of Take-up in 2009-10”. The full report can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up

Poverty: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of child poverty was in Pendle in each year since 2006.

Esther McVey: The Government does not measure child poverty at the level of local authorities, such as Pendle.

Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who have been subject to the under occupancy penalty live in each (a) parliamentary constituency, (b) local authority area and (c) region and constituent part of the UK.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is available by region, local authority and parliamentary constituency in Great Britain, and is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/ Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm Proportions can then be calculated using the published figures. Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development. Northern Ireland statistics and can be found at:http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm

Health and Safety Executive

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information on health and safety practices and records of companies the Health and Safety Executive collects; and what information is made available as open source data.

Mr Mark Harper: Holding answer received on 07 January 2015



 The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) collects information on health and safety practices of companies through a range of statutory notification schemes, licencing and permissioning regimes and the information recorded by HSE Inspectors during their interventions to enable it to fulfil its role as a regulator. These include:· Notifications of reportable incidents and offshore releases of hydrocarbons under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 (RIDDOR)· Notifications of planned construction projects and work with Ionising Radiation· Applications for asbestos licences and consents under the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH)· Information on the management of workplace health and safety risks from the inspection of sites and investigation of incidents Formal enforcement action, including improvement and prohibition notices and prosecutions, taken as a result of HSE regulatory activities is set out in public registers published on HSE’s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/notices/ and http://www.hse.gov.uk/prosecutions/ Various statistical analyses on health and safety performance of industries across Great Britain are also published on the HSE website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/.

Unemployed People: Training

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to introduce a loan repayment scheme to assist jobseekers to enrol on training courses.

Esther McVey: DWP offer jobseekers a range of free training options tailored to their requirements through the Work Programme or through local provision in Jobcentre Plus Districts In England, for those wishing to enrol in other courses, Advanced Learning Loans may be available. Skills is a devolved issue, and funding the responsibility of the Devolved Administrations.

Housing Benefit: Birkenhead

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in the social rented sector in Birkenhead constituency have been affected by the under-occupancy penalty; and what average change in housing benefit each such person has received.

Mr Mark Harper: Holding answer received on 07 January 2015



 The information requested, in respect of the number of Housing Benefit (HB) claimants affected by the under occupancy penalty and the average HB reduction amount, is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/  Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2014 to Question 204224, whether the introduction of personal independence payment is on time and on budget.

Mr Mark Harper: Personal independence payment (PIP) was introduced for new claimants from April 2013 in line with published plans. We are still on course to have completed the process of having invited all eligible disability living allowance claimants to claim PIP by late 2017 in line with expectations. PIP delivery to date has been achieved within the available budgets set for it by DWP.

Disability Living Allowance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances 15 year olds receiving disability living allowance (DLA) who have been informed that they need to claim personal independence payment are then permitted to reclaim DLA; and how many people have successfully reclaimed DLA in those circumstances.

Mr Mark Harper: Children in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) who live in an area where reassessment activity in relation to inviting claims to personal independence payment (PIP) for existing DLA recipients has started are invited to claim PIP on or shortly after their 16th birthday. The parents or guardians of the child are notified in advance of the invitation of what will happen on the child’s 16th birthday. If a DLA claim has ceased prior to a child’s 16th birthday then the parent or guardian is able to reapply for DLA on the child’s behalf at any point up to a child’s 16th birthday. All DLA claimants living in a reassessment area and who are invited to claim PIP on or following their 16th birthday are excluded from making a further claim to DLA.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payments claims have been recorded as withdrawn as a result of PIP2 being returned late in the last years.

Mr Mark Harper: The latest published PIP statistics show that between April 2013 and October 2014 there were 158,800 PIP claims disallowed (see table 2Bi - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/388633/Data-tables-PIP-statistical-release-Dec-2014.xls). Of these disallowed claims, around 48,500 were disallowed during the PIP claims process due to non-return of the PIP2 within the time limit. Procedures are in place to provide additional support to claimants during the claims process where necessary.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former staff of his Department have been re-employed on (a) fixed term and (b) other arrangements to help address the personal independence payment delays backlog.

Mr Mark Harper: This information is not routinely available and to gather it would incur disproportionate cost.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff not employed on permanent contracts have been employed to help reduce the number of people waiting for personal independence payment decisions.

Mr Mark Harper: 76 non-permanent staff have been employed to help reduce the number of people waiting for personal independence payment decisions.

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional steps his Department has taken to reduce waiting times for people seeking personal independence payment decisions; and what the cost of those steps was.

Mr Mark Harper: DWP are working closely with both assessment providers to drive up PIP performance and taking forward various operational initiatives to improve overall PIP processing times, while also maintaining a strong focus on the quality of PIP decisions. So far DWP has introduced a wide range of improvements including:A reduction in claim times from terminally ill people to their expected levelQuadrupling the number of assessments cleared each month since January last year;Almost 4 times more healthcare professionals.And as a result of that:The number of people with a PIP claim in payment almost doubled between July and October.The number of clearances by providers has risen consistently last year and the backlog is reducing.All these improvements were delivered within reasonable budget tolerances and with due governance.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department collects on (a) mental health problems, (b) physical health problems and (c) illiteracy rates among people sanctioned by Jobcentre Plus.

Mr Mark Harper: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Warrington are subject to the under-occupancy penalty.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested, in respect of the number of Housing Benefit (HB) claimants affected by the under occupancy penalty is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/  Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

Home Office

UK Border Agency

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many front-line staff are employed at the UK border; and what the annual cost to the public purse is of such staff.

Lynne Featherstone: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 05 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

There are approximately 7,900 Home Office staff employed by Border Force on the front line at the UK border. The annual cost of these staff is approximately £373 million.Please note these figures are part of the current year’s expenditure and so will be subject to audit. These are Home Office staff and do not include staff working for other agencies.

James Brokenshire: There are approximately 7,900 Home Office staff employed by Border Force on the front line at the UK border. The annual cost of these staff is approximately £373 million.Please note these figures are part of the current year’s expenditure and so will be subject to audit. These are Home Office staff and do not include staff working for other agencies.

Shops: Antisocial Behaviour

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to local authorities and police forces on the use of community protection notices to tackle shops that persistently (a) sell prohibited goods to underage persons and (b) sell smuggled or counterfeit tobacco.

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to local authorities and police forces on the use of closure orders to tackle shops that persistently (a) sell prohibited goods to underage persons and (b) sell smuggled or counterfeit tobacco.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



The Government published statutory guidance on 21 July 2014 for police, local councils, social landlords and others on the use of new anti-social behaviour powers in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, including the community protection notice and closure power, which both came into force on 20 October 2014. This is general guidance and does not specifically refer to using the powers to tackle shops that persistently sell prohibited goods to underage persons or sell smuggled or counterfeit tobacco. However, the closure power can be used to close these premises for up to six months if they are causing nuisance or disorder. The statutory guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332839/StatutoryGuidanceFrontline.pdf.

Offences against Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims of child abuse were designated by police in England and Wales as requiring no further action in each year since 1984.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.

Offences against Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department and its Executive agencies have taken to record (a) claims of child abuse, (b) cases of suspected child abuse and (c) proven cases of child abuse.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to better record claims of child abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has in place a protocol for passing information received in respect of child abuse to the police. This protocol, "Child Sexual Abuse Information/Correspondence – Home Office Protocol", has been agreed with the National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation. The protocol ensures that we record and refer to the police claims of child abuse, and suspected child abuse. The Review by Peter Wanless and Richard Whittam QC, published on 11 November and available in the House Library, included a copy of this protocol at Annex H and also made recommendations to strengthen existing arrangements on the handling of child abuse information received by the Department. In response, we have introduced a new approach to recording allegations of child abuse made to the Department and have revised with the National Policing lead the protocol for passing such information to the police.The protocol does not specifically cover the recording or referral of proven cases of child abuse as those cases will have already come to the attention of the prosecuting authorities. That information is not routinely collected by the Home Office.

Human Trafficking: Children

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department contributes to the trialing of independent advocates for trafficked children.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213215, which 23 local authorities are taking part in the trial of specialist-independent advocates for trafficked children.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2014 to Question 213215, when her Department expects to lay before Parliament a report in relation to advocates for victims of child trafficking.

Karen Bradley: Barnardo’s has been awarded a grant of £420,916 from the Home Office for the provision of advocates during the 12 month trial across 23 local authorities. The cost of the independent evaluation being undertaken by the University of Bedfordshire is £138,543 exclusive of VAT. An evaluation report will be submitted to the Home Office at the end of the trial in November 2015. The Modern Slavery Bill commits the Government to lay a report before Parliament no later than 9 months after Royal Assent on setting out the steps it is proposed to take in relation to child trafficking advocates. Lessons learnt from the trial will be detailed in the report, at which point we will be in a better position to assess what works best in supporting and protecting these vulnerable children. In January 2014 the Government announced proposals to trial specialist independent advocates for trafficked children. The trial began on 8 September 2014 and will run for a period of 12 months across 23 local authorities in England. These are listed in the table below.  Manchester CityKentStockportLancashireTamesideOxfordshireOldhamWest SussexRochdaleBirminghamBuryCoventryBoltonDudleyWiganSandwellSalfordSolihullTraffordWalsallCroydonWolverhamptonDerbyshire

Offences against Children

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with (a) charities, (b) lobby groups, (c) experts and (d) the police on the handling of false allegations of child abuse.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to police forces on the handling of false allegations of child sexual abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: Government engagement with charities and experts on child sexual abuse is coordinated by the National Group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People. The National Group, which is chaired by myselfand includes experts from the voluntary sector, has overseen a cultural shift in how allegations of abuse are handled. This is reflected in updated Crown Prosecution Service guidance which supports a culture focused on the credibility of the allegation rather than the credibility of the victim; a shift which recognises how the vulnerability of potential victims and power of perpetrators needs to be addressed.The College of Policing has issued authorised professional practice for police in relation to investigating child abuse and exploitation. The guidance also aims to move the focus of investigations away from testing the credibility of victims onto the credibility of the allegation and ensuring victims are listened to by the police.It is not always obvious to the police that when a complaint is made and then subsequently investigated by them, that the allegation in question may be false. Where an investigation identifies a false allegation, it may be appropriate for the police to support a prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice. It is essential in all cases that all steps are taken to test the validity of statements, corroborate accounts and establish an accurate picture.The Government is clear that if child abuse takes place, it must be thoroughly and properly investigated, and those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.

Sexual Offences

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage victims of sexual assault to report such assaults to the police.

Lynne Featherstone: Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes and the government remains committed to tackling sexual violence, as set out fully in our Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan updated in March 2014. Supporting victims is at the heart of this approach, which includes giving victims more confidence to report crimes, and it is encouraging that police recorded crime figures show more victims are having the confidence to come forward. In addition, the volume of rape referrals from the police rose to 5,850 in 2013-14 – a rise of 446 referrals (8.3%) from 2012-13. 3,621 were charged, the highest volumes and proportions ever and a rise of 732 charged defendants (25.3%) from 2012-13.We want every report of rape to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and every prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally. Our focus is on the rights and welfare of the victim and we are committed to ensuring that every victim of rape has access to appropriate support. We continue to work with the police to look at ways to improve the police response to rape and sexual assault. We have supported the publication of data on rape for every police force in the country as a basis for improving recording and investigations of rape, and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary have inspected the recording of rape as part of a wider crime recording audit. The new Rape Action Plan, led by the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Policing Lead for Rape, will aid the government’s drive to ensure that every report is treated seriously and every victim is given the help they deserve.

Offences against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the Minister with cross-departmental responsibilities for child sexual exploitation has met groups of survivors of historic child abuse in the last 12 months.

Lynne Featherstone: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



The Minister for Crime Prevention [the Minister with cross-departmental responsibility for CSE] chairs the National Group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People, which has met every four to six weeks since its formation in April 2013, and includes in its membership the voluntary organisations Rape Crisis, NSPCC and Barnardo’s. The National Group coordinates Government action on the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable people.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what amount was spent by all government Departments on each type of activity related to tackling extremism in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the terms of reference were of the review commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary of cross-government expenditure on tackling extremism.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of cross-government expenditure on tackling extremism was spent (a) domestically and (b) internationally in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what amount was spent by each Department on tackling extremism in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish, either redacted or in full, the review commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary of cross-government expenditure on tackling extremism.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Syria

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the Syrian refugees so far resettled in the UK through the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme are (a) principal applicants and (b) family dependents.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Asylum: Syria

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme to ensure that it is responsive to need.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the status is of members of the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what undertakings she gave to members of the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse regarding the longevity of their appointments when she (a) first appointed and (b) last met them.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she last met members of the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; and if she will publish the minutes of that meeting.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the status is of the evidence gathered to date by the members of the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Child Sexual Abuse Independent Panel Inquiry

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to make further appointments to the Independent Panel Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

International Climate Fund

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the funds earmarked by her Department for the International Climate Fund has been disbursed.

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to which countries and for what purpose her Department's contribution to the International Climate Fund has been spent; and what proportion of such funding (a) has been allocated to multilateral institutions and (b) is (i) capital and (ii) resource expenditure.

Justine Greening: DFID has allocated £2.4bn to the International Climate Fund (ICF) between financial years 2011/12 and 2015/2016. Roughly 40% of the amount so far disbursed was capital expenditure and 60% was resource expenditure.   The purpose of the International Climate Fund (ICF) is to support international poverty reduction by helping developing countries to adapt to climate change, take up low carbon development and tackle deforestation.

Developing Countries: Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential for equipment, such as scanning equipment, supplied through funding provided by her Department, either directly or indirectly through other organisations, to be used for the purposes of coercive abortion; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK Government supports the work of various international organisations and agencies to promote informed choice, sexual and reproductive rights and women’s empowerment. All UK support to improve sexual and reproductive health – including for procurement of medicines and equipment – must be provided in this context.

Private Military and Security Companies

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will detail the (a) number and (b) cost of contacts with private military companies in each year since 2008; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: DFID does not categorise its suppliers by the terminology ‘private military companies’ so cannot provide this level of information requested.

HM Treasury

Tax Avoidance and Evasion

Mr David Lammy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Government has spent on advertising campaigns aimed at reducing tax evasion and tax avoidance since 2010.

Mr David Gauke: In the interest of transparency, all government expenditure above £25,000 is disclosed on data.gov.uk.

National Debt: Gifts and Endowments

Norman Baker: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many gifts from members of the public were made for the purpose of reducing the national debt in each of the last three years; what the (a) nature and (b) value of each gift was; whether it is his policy to encourage such donations; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Given below is a list of gifts from members of the public made for the purpose of reducing the national debt in each of the last three years, with the nature and value of each gift. Over the last three years there have been 39 such gifts; 16 in 12/13, 16 in 13/14, and 7 in 14/15. The Treasury is a passive receiver of donations and bequests. It does not actively pursue possible donations. Year 2013-1412.1824-Feb-14Unknown 200.0019-Feb-14Gift 15.0010-Feb-14Gift 3.8716-Jan-14Unknown 1.9902-Dec-13Unknown 40.0021-Nov-13Gift 2.9414-Oct-13Unknown 336,356.5327-Sep-13Bequest 0.7803-Sep-13Unknown 420,576.0023-Aug-13Bequest 120.0020-Aug-13Unknown 6.7705-Aug-13Unknown 1.9903-Jun-13Unknown 41,571.7930-Apr-13BequestTotal799,389.84  Year 2012-13284,964.0028-Mar-13Bequest 1,988.2005-Mar-13Bequest 41.9118-Feb-13Unknown 3.0604-Feb-13Unknown 8.8431-Jan-13Unknown 1.9903-Dec-12Unknown 7,000.0006-Nov-12Bequest 0.0430-Oct-12Unknown 0.0730-Oct-12Unknown 101,946.9824-Oct-12Bequest 1.7501-Jun-13Unknown 0.0801-Jun-12Unknown 0.0801-Jun-12Unknown 0.0801-Jun-12UnknownTotal406,607.08  Year 2011-12120.0029-Mar-12Unknown 18,478.4914-Dec-11Bequest 1.9901-Dec-11Unknown 6.7222-Sep-11Unknown 1.6119-Sep-11Unknown 4.4519-Sep-11Unknown 42.8019-Sep-11Unknown 5.6120-Jul-11Unknown 7.8014-Jul-11Unknown 1.4405-Jul-11Unknown 1.2605-Jul-11Unknown 0.1105-Jul-11Unknown 17.0628-Jun-11Unknown 0.0102-Jun-11Unknown 1.9901-Jun-11Unknown 0.0110-May-11Unknown 0.3805-May-11Unknown 1,416.9304-May-11BequestTotal21,183.66

Minimum Wage

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average cost is to HM Revenue and Customs of national minimum wage enforcement cases where (a) there is no enforcement action, (b) a Notice of Underpayment is issued and (c) there is a criminal prosecution.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were repaid arrears of the national minimum wage as a result of his Department's enforcement activity in each of the last six years.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints about non-payment of the national minimum wage HM Revenue and Customs received about how many employers in each of the last six years.

Mr David Gauke: The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, HMRC undertake targeted enforcement on employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.   HMRC does not attribute the number of any multiple complaints to individual employers.   HMRC does not record the average costs of individual types of enforcement activity.   HMRC has identified arrears of National Minimum Wage for the following numbers of workers in in each of the past six years.   Year2008-20092009-20102010-20112011-20122012-20132013-2014Number of workers for whom arrears were identified23,24719,24522,91917,37126,51922,610   The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW will pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment. Where they do not, HMRC will pursue recovery through the civil courts on behalf of the workers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Rushanara Ali: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanisms his Department has put in place to ensure that all its polices are consistent with the UK's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Andrea Leadsom: HM Treasury considers the impacts of its legislative and wider policy work, including impacts specifically on children. In the course of this work it consults with a number of expert groups and, in particular, works closely with Government Departments with lead responsibilities on policies important for the welfare of children.This approach reflects the government’s commitment to fairness as well as to meeting our wider commitments and legal obligations.

Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was overpaid in child and working tax credit because of error by officials in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years for which records are available.

Andrea Leadsom: HMRC tax credit overpayment figures are available in the Finalised Child and Working Tax Credits statistics annual award supplement on payments located here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/fin-main-stats/cwtc-awards-sup.xls on the ‘Main Aggregates’ table. HMRC total tax credit expenditure figures are available in the Finalised Child and Working Tax Credits statistics located here: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/fin-main-stats/cwtc-awards.xls in Table 1.1.

Christmas Cards

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which (a) individuals, (b) companies and (c) other organisations receive Christmas cards from his Department.

Andrea Leadsom: Treasury Ministers send Christmas cards to a range of people with whom the Treasury interacts.

Debt Collection

Richard Fuller: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2014 to Question 210848, if he will publish the criteria used by HM Revenue and Customs to determine whether payment of a debt should be pursued even when a case has been accepted for investigation by the Adjudicator.

Andrea Leadsom: HMRC are not required to suspend activity while the Adjudicator is investigating a complaint and therefore there is no specific criteria used in relation to this. The complaints process, including a referral to the Adjudicator, is not a legal process and it should not be used to override the law in which HMRC must comply with in regards to the collection of debts that are legally due.

Training: Tax Allowances

Mr John Denham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what definition of training his Department uses for the purposes of allowing tax relief on employer spending on training.

Mr David Gauke: In calculating taxable business profits, employers can deduct revenue expenditure on any kind of employee training providing the expenditure is incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the business.   More detail on tax deductions for expenditure on staff training and development is available in HMRC’s Business Income Manual(http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/BIM47080.htm

Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.103 of the Autumn Statement 2014, what discussions he had with the Chief Executive of Invest NI before the announcement of the possible devolution of corporation tax.

Mr David Gauke: At Autumn Statement 2014, the Government announced that the devolution of a corporation tax rate-setting power to Northern Ireland could be implemented provided that the Northern Ireland Executive is able to manage the financial implications. Following the 23 December Stormont House Agreement, the Government has announced that it will introduce and publish the Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) bill on 8 January 2015.   Treasury Ministers have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.   Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to require that multinational corporations produce a breakdown of their profits earned in the UK and to report all payments of royalties, interest on borrowing and transfer pricing to other tax areas.

Mr David Gauke: At the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that the UK will introduce legislation to implement the G20-OECD agreed model for country-by-country reporting, which requires multinational companies to provide tax authorities with high level information on profit, corporation tax paid and certain indicators of economic activity for risk assessment.   Draft legislation for Finance Bill 2015 was published on 10 December 2014 together with a Tax Information and Impact Note and an Explanatory Note.

Small Businesses: VAT

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department plans to monitor the effect of the VAT mini one stop shop and VAT rules changes which come into force on 1 January 2015 on small and micro businesses in the UK.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will continue to support businesses, particularly small and micro businesses and will monitor the impact of the changes on them. HMRC will also monitor take up of the VAT Mini One Stop and UK VAT receipts arising from the changes. HMRC meets regularly with representatives of business to discuss a wide range of issues.

Electronic Publishing: VAT

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the potential effect on music web publishing businesses in the UK of the introduction of recently announced changes to VAT rules.

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether music students who make their music available via (a) www.bandcamp.com and (b) other sharing platforms will be required to register for VAT from 1 January 2015.

Mr David Gauke: The changes to the VAT place of supply rules were announced at the 2013 Budget. In 2013, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) established an external working group focussing on the interests of small and medium sized businesses to consider the effect of the changes. In recent weeks the Treasury and HMRC have also had meetings with Enterprise Nation and individual micro businesses to listen to their views.

Small Businesses: VAT

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many small and medium-sized businesses were directly consulted on the recently announced changes to VAT rules.

Mr David Gauke: I cannot comment on individual businesses but EU law provides that where a platform operator sets the general terms and conditions, or authorises payment, or handles delivery of the digital service, the platform is responsible for accounting for the VAT.

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the evidence of Kevin Nicholson, Head of Tax, PWC, to the Committee of Public Accounts of 31 January 2013, question 39, HC 870-i, if he will seek from Luxembourg's tax authorities information about who advised, sold, arranged or organised tax avoidance deals taking place in that country.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) routinely shares information with other tax administrations; this is normal practice and is one of many tools HMRC uses when enquiring into tax avoidance. Where risks are identified HMRC will challenge these robustly. HMRC have a legal duty of confidentiality which limits the information they can disclose, including to ministers. I therefore cannot provide any further information about the subject of any enquiries which they may make.

Multinational Companies: Taxation

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.243 of the Autumn Statement 2014, how he plans to assess the profits made by multinational corporations for the purpose of the diverted profits tax.

Mr David Gauke: The legislation for the Diverted Profits Tax, and associated guidance, was published in draft form for technical consultation on the 10 December. This sets out in detail proposals as to how profits will be calculated for purposes of imposing a tax charge under the legislation. The period for technical consultation will conclude on the 4 February, after which the legislation and guidance will be finalised, with the intention of introducing this measure from 1 April 2015.

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what investigations his Department is conducting on British companies and multinational companies trading in the UK described in documents leaked from PWC on their tax deals in Luxembourg.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs does not comment on the tax affairs of individual companies.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the average LPG price in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland.

Mr David Gauke: The Government does not keep central estimates of LPG prices.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Mr Robin Walker: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the implications of the Valuation Office Agency's decision to remove cash machines in post offices from the rating list on other retail businesses that host cash machines.

Mr David Gauke: No such assessment has been made.   Decisions on when sites should be assessed for business rates are made independently of Ministers by the Valuation Office Agency and are considered on a case by case basis, taking account of the particular circumstances of each occupation, in line with rating legislation.   The government has reduced the burden of business rates for all ratepayers, including retailers, in 2014-15 and 2015-16. It has also increased the business rates retail discount for retail properties with a rateable value of £50,000 or below from £1000 to £1500 from April 2015.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

Mr Robin Walker: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of removing free to use cash machines from the rating list on access to banking and money; and if he will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The government has reduced the burden of business rates for all ratepayers, including free to use cash machines, in 2014-15 and 2015-16. However, the rating list does not distinguish free to use cash machines and no assessment has been made of removing them. The availability of free cash machines across the country is at an all-time high, with 97% of all cash withdrawals made by UK cardholders in the UK charging no costs to customers.

Foreign Companies: VAT

Toby Perkins: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the cost to the economy of overseas firms not registering for VAT in the UK; and what steps he plans to take to ensure that such companies do register for VAT.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) uses a range of information sources to identify overseas businesses that are making supplies in the UK which make them liable to account for VAT here.

Small Businesses: VAT

Steve McCabe: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to introduce (a) VAT mini one stop shops and (b) new VAT rules affecting small and micro businesses.

Andrea Leadsom: From 1 January 2015, for all digital supplies to EU consumers, VAT is due in the Member State of consumption rather than the country where the supplier is based. The VAT Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS) allows businesses to account for all the VAT due throughout the EU via a single registration in one Member State. HMRC’s UK MOSS went live in October 2014 and can be utilised by all UK businesses, including those below the VAT registration threshold.

Children: Day Care

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to provide guidance to families with variable working hours and incomes on choosing between universal credit and the tax-free childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to provide advice to parents on identifying which childcare support system is best for them; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Government Digital Service are working with stakeholders to develop detailed guidance on Tax-Free Childcare. This will include clear information for all families. HMRC are also developing a childcare calculator which will offer comparisons with other government schemes.

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether profits reported by Big Four accountancy houses on the sale of tax avoidance schemes in Luxembourg are taxed in the UK.

Mr David Gauke: I am unable to comment on the tax affairs of individual companies as doing so would be a breach of taxpayer confidentiality.

Tax Avoidance: Luxembourg

Austin Mitchell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219226 on multinational companies: tax avoidance, whether he has made any such request for the exchange of information with the Luxembourg tax authorities.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) routinely shares information with other tax administrations; this is normal practice and is one of many tools HMRC uses when enquiring into tax avoidance. Where risks are identified HMRC will challenge these robustly. HMRC have a legal duty of confidentiality which limits the information they can disclose, including to ministers. I therefore cannot provide any further information about the subject of any enquiries which they may make.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2014 to Question 215252, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's estimate of retail (a) electricity and (b) gas prices in each month between January 2007 and November 2014.

Matthew Hancock: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 10 December 2014.The correct answer should have been:

Copies of the data requested in Question 215252 have now been placed in the Libraries of the House.DECC do not produce monthly estimates of retail energy prices.

Matthew Hancock: Copies of the data requested in Question 215252 have now been placed in the Libraries of the House.DECC do not produce monthly estimates of retail energy prices.

Energy: Billing

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the performance of the My Energy Credit scheme.

Matthew Hancock: MyEnergyCredit scheme is an industry initiative by six largest energy companies to help energy consumers to claim credit repayments owed by their former energy supplier. The scheme was launched in two stages. The first stage was launched on 10 September and enabled consumers to claim repayments through the website www.myenergycredit.com. The second stage launched on 10 December enables consumers to claim through a new helpline 0370 737 7770 and a freepost address:Freepost RTHL-ZYBU-KBCCMy Energy Credit47 Aylesbury RoadThame. OX9 3PGIt is important energy consumers are returned money that is rightfully theirs if it has been left behind when they moved house or switched supplier.In February 2014, Ofgem called on energy companies to take action to return money they were holding in customers’ closed accounts. At that time, Ofgem estimated that the total balance held by suppliers in former domestic customer accounts was at least £202m, and £204m for former non-domestic customers. Ofgem continues to monitor suppliers’ progress and review the need for further action.

Plutonium

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress has been made in the Government's decision for handling the UK's plutonium stockpile.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 05 January 2015



The UK Government remains open to any credible option that offers the best value for money to the taxpayer. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) are undertaking work for us to:1) gain further understanding of reuse options (reuse as MOX and assessment of the credible alternatives PRISM and Candu);2) continue to develop the immobilisation option; and3) establish potential approaches to acquisition and procurement.We are expecting the NDA to complete this work by early 2015. When this information has been collated, DECC will begin the necessary Government process to decide whether or not to proceed into a formal selection process. When the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, that it is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, it will be in a position to proceed.

Fracking: Wales

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the possibility of extending powers over access to shale gas mineral rights.

Matthew Hancock: I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government on devolving these powers to Wales.On the wider subject of devolution, my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales intends to announce, by St David’s Day, a set of commitments, agreed by the four main political parties in Wales, on the way forward for Welsh devolution. These commitments can then form a basis, a “baseline”, for taking forward Welsh devolution after the General Election in May. As part of this process, the Secretary of State for Wales has said he will look carefully at the proposals made by the Smith Commission to identify which, if any, may warrant further consideration and analysis in respect of Wales.

Renewable Energy

Mrs Anne McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he expects to publish the final recommendations from the consultation on the Electricity Intensive Industries - Relief from the Indirect Costs of Renewables.

Matthew Hancock: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her in my capacity as Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Energy on 7 January 2015 to Question 219138:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2014-12-17/219138/.

Energy Companies Obligation

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many contracts have been signed with each energy company to deliver projects under the Energy Companies Obligation between April 2015 and April 2017.

Amber Rudd: The Department does not collect this information from Energy Companies.

Oil: Prices

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions his Department has had with petrol retailers to ensure that changes in the cost of oil are reflected in the retail prices of petrol; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock: The Government believes that it is important that consumers get a fair deal and that falls in oil prices are passed on to lower prices for motorists. We wrote to major fuel retailers on 7 November seeking reassurance that they were fully passing on changes in the oil price to UK consumers at pumps in full and as quickly as possible.The Department regularly meets petrol retailers and their representatives, and closely monitors pump prices, publishing data regularly:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-weekly-statistics.In January 2013, the Office for Fair Trading published the results of a Call for Information which found no evidence that oil prices rises are passed on to motorists more quickly than price falls.

Energy: Prices

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2014 to Question 212185, whether he discussed the pricing structure of the energy industry in his most recent meeting with Ofgem.

Matthew Hancock: In my rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State’s most recent meeting with Ofgem, they discussed a range of issues relating to the energy market including the Market Investigation Reference being carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority. Competition in the market is crucial to ensuring fair tariffs for consumers.

International Climate Fund

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how frequently the International Climate Fund Board meets.

Matthew Hancock: The International Climate Fund Board normally meets 3-4 times a year.

Energy

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many times he has met senior representatives of the six largest energy companies since November 2014.

Matthew Hancock: My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has on 3 occasions met with representative(s) from one or more of the six largest energy companies since 1st November 2014.Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis on the www.gov.uk website at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-of-energy-climate-change&publication_type=transparency-data.

Electricity: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the amount of electricity transferred (a) from Scotland to England and (b) from England to Scotland on each day from 21 December 2014 to 7 January 2015.

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much electricity was produced by (a) onshore wind, (b) offshore wind, (c) solar, (d) hydro, (e) nuclear, (f) coal and (g) gas in each of the constituent parts of the UK from 21 December 2014 to 7 January 2015.

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of electricity consumption in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland from 21 December 2014 to 7 January 2015.

Matthew Hancock: Information for the time period requested is not available.

Members: Correspondence

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the contribution of the Under-Secretary of State in the Fourth Delegated Legislation Committee on 4 December 2014, Official Report, column 7, when the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West will receive correspondence responding to matters raised regarding the capacity market and demand-side reduction for nuclear.

Matthew Hancock: The hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West will receive a letter shortly responding to matters raised at the Delegated Legislation Committee session on the 4 December 2014.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the cost of liquid petroleum gas.

Matthew Hancock: Fuel prices are primarily driven by the underlying price of crude oil, though are also influenced by a range of other supply and demand factors, including refining capacity, stock levels, distribution costs, retail margins and seasonal demand variations.It is vital that the sharp fall in oil and gas prices are passed on to families at petrol pumps, through utility bills and air fares.We will closely monitor whether companies are passing on the benefits to customers of falling oil and gas prices.

Cabinet Office

Civil Servants: Pensions

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants have not received any pension payments from MyCSP since October 2014.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants have received late pension payments since the spin out of MyCSP in 2012.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many retired civil servants have received late pension payments from MyCSP since October 2014.

Mr Francis Maude: MyCSP was spun-out as a mutual joint venture in May 2012. Mutualising MyCSP was good for staff, taxpayers and for the service they provide to pensioners. MyCSP will almost halve the cost of administering pensions within a decade, while improving services which were variable before. Employees of MyCSP have benefited through dividends, which they have received in both years since mutualisation. Staff survey figures show rising staff engagement and a decline in sickness absence.MyCSP Ltd took over administration of the pensioner payroll in September 2011. Legacy problems were inherited from the previous supplier, including 5,579 cases where payments had already been delayed or missed by September. MyCSP have now cleared all but 422 of these cases and MyCSP has switched available resources to reduce the remaining backlog as quickly as possible.Since October there have been 1197 cases of delayed payment, most of which were the result of ongoing delays of the historic cases inherited from the previous supplier in September.Since October 36 overseas pensioners have been awaiting payments. 33 of these are still outstanding because new banking mandates need to be completed to allow processing by the new paying bank.MyCSP are doing everything possible to clear all remaining cases where payments are still due but are in many cases dependent on employers or pensioners themselves for the necessary information to do so. Where delayed payment has caused hardship MyCSP have been making emergency interim payments to members. The majority of the scheme’s 658,000 pensioners have been paid accurately and on time since September.

Education: Procurement

Steve McCabe: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2014 to Question 215805, what response his Department has received from educational institutions on his Department's guidance on the 2014 EU Procurement Directives.

Mr Francis Maude: Of the 204 responses received to the Government’s consultation on implementing the 2014 EU Procurement Directives, 60 were from educational institutions.We have had no specific feedback on the guidance that was issued in conjunction with the training programme on the new Directives in the summer.

Buildings

Margaret Curran: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 7 January 2013 to Question 135835, on Dover House, whether building work on the first floor of 70 Whitehall has been concluded; and when the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is expected to vacate Dover House.

Mr Francis Maude: Under plans agreed prior to the 2010 General Election, 70 Whitehall is undergoing modernisation works. As a result, there are no current plans for the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office to vacate Dover House.

Government Departments: Legal Opinion

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on the circumstances under which Departments should seek legal advice from the Attorney General; if he will publish that guidance; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude: Guidance on the circumstances under which departments can seek legal advice from the Law Officers including the Attorney General can be found in publicly available documents including the Ministerial Code and the Cabinet Manual.

Beer: Industry

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs related to the brewing industry in (a) Ribble Valley constituency, (b) Lancashire and (c) the UK.

Mr Rob Wilson: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

India

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Indian government on the continued detainment in India of political prisoners who have served their sentences.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not discussed this issue with the Indian government. However, we continue to monitor the general human rights situation in India closely. We also maintain an active dialogue on human rights with Indian officials, including through events such as the EU-India human rights dialogue in November 2013.

India

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Indian government on the treatment of Sikhs in India.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of Gurbaksh Singh’s hunger strike in protest of the continued detention of Sikh prisoners, and closely monitor both this and the general human rights situation in India.In June 2014, British High Commissioner to India Sir James Bevan met India's new Minister of Minority Affairs, Dr Najma Heptulla, to discuss a range of minority issues. Officials from the British High Commission in New Delhi also hold regular discussions on these issues, including those of the Sikh community, with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with other relevant State level authorities. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with Indian officials about minority rights in India.

India

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that prisoners in India are released once they have served their prison sentences.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have not discussed this issue with the Indian government. However, we continue to monitor the general human rights situation in India closely. We also maintain an active dialogue on human rights with Indian officials, including through events such as the EU-India human rights dialogue in November 2013.

India

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on the hunger strike of Bhai Gurbaksh Singh in India; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of Gurbaksh Singh’s hunger strike in protest of the continued detention of Sikh prisoners, and closely monitor both this and the general human rights situation in India.In June 2014, British High Commissioner to India Sir James Bevan met India's new Minister of Minority Affairs, Dr Najma Heptulla, to discuss a range of minority issues. Officials from the British High Commission in New Delhi also hold regular discussions on these issues, including those of the Sikh community, with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with other relevant State level authorities. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with Indian officials about minority rights in India.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Telecommunications: Contracts

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent review he has made of the arrangements that ensure that customers can easily switch contracts between telecom providers.

Mr Edward Vaizey: We set out our thinking on switching in the Connectivity, Content and Consumers [CCC} Strategy Paper, published in July 2013. In December 2013 Ofcom announced that gaining-provider led (GPL) switching would be mandated for broadband and fixed telephony over the Openreach network. Full implementation of this will be completed by June 2015. In July 2014, Ofcom published a call for inputs (which closed in September) on switching providers of broadband, pay-TV, mobile voice and data services and bundled services, in order to gauge the impact of these processes on consumers’ experience and on competition. Ofcom is conducting further research and holding discussions with industry and consumer organisations. It will publish a document setting out its findings in the first half of 2015

Official Hospitality

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish the document DCMS Ministerial hospitality, overseas travel and meetings with external organisations: 1 April to 30 June 2014.

Mrs Helen Grant: The document DCMS Ministerial hospitality, overseas travel and meetings with external organisations: 1 April to 30 June 2014 will be published shortly.

Film: Finance

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether requirements are placed on companies in receipt of Film Fund funding to pay their interns and apprentices.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Companies in receipt of British Film Institute (BFI) Lottery Film Funding are subject to employment law.

Department of Health

Abortion

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 61 of the Report of the Smith Commission, what plans he has for the devolution of abortion.

Jane Ellison: The Smith Commission Agreement recommended further serious consideration should be given to devolution of abortion and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further. The issue is currently under consideration.

Neuromuscular Disorders: North West

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to increase neuromuscular care advisor support for adults in North Lancashire and South Cumbria living with neuromuscular conditions.

Norman Lamb: NHS England is responsible for commissioning specialised services, including neuromuscular services.   NHS England published Neurosciences: Specialised Neurology (Adult) in July 2013. This service specification describes the service commissioned by NHS England for patients with a neuromuscular disorder. Care is provided via a managed clinical pathway that supports multidisciplinary and cross organisational working. The multi-disciplinary team includes neuromuscular care coordinators.   The service specification has been implemented from 1 October 2013. NHS England is working with providers to ensure they comply with the service description and standards.

Drugs: Licensing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets he will set for the uptake of clinically effective off-patent drugs.

George Freeman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Crawley (Henry Smith) on 24 November 2014 to Question 214424

Drugs: Licensing

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on the use of patient decision aids to support the use of off-patent drugs outside of their licensed indications.

George Freeman: We have asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to consider whether one of the patient decision aids it is piloting could focus on relevant prescribing aspects of its clinical guideline on familial breast cancer.

Neuromuscular Disorders

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the neuromuscular care advisor post to be hosted by University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will be re-advertised and recruited; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.   We have written to Rt. Hon. Jacqui Smith, Chair of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust informing her of the hon. Member’s enquiry. She will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

Methadone

Mr David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the press release by the Department for Work and Pensions on 31 October 2014 on the families test, whether his Department has conducted such a test on its policy on long-term prescribing of methadone for opiate addicts.

Jane Ellison: Treatment for an addiction to opiates is a clinical matter, to be agreed between the individual and their treatment provider in the context of the relevant evidence-base and related authoritative guidance. Proper professional practice of those prescribing for addiction is regulated through mechanisms established by Parliament.   A 2013 inspection by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission praised joint working between children’s social care and drug and alcohol services to ensure that children affected by their parents’ or carers’ difficulties were supported and safe.

Doctors: Working Hours

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hours were worked on average by NHS-employed hospital doctors in each of the last 10 years.

Dr Daniel Poulter: This information is not held centrally. The basic working hours of all employed doctors are 40 per week. Doctors in training are contracted to work in bandings of 40 hours; 40 to 48 hours and 48 to 56 hours.

Locums

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors employed in general practice have been offered a contract as a locum by the NHS in each year from 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors in general practice were employed through agencies in each year from 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) can confirm that the annual general practitioner (GP) workforce census excludes GP locums and hence they do not hold any information on GP locums.   The HSCIC centre does not hold any data on the number of GPs employed through agencies. We do not believe that this data is held centrally anywhere else.

Nurses: Part-time Employment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses employed by the NHS worked part-time in each calendar year from 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many midwives working in NHS hospitals were employed part-time in each year from 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre publish an annual workforce census, which shows staff working in the National Health Service in England. The latest information from the census was published in March 2014 and shows the position at 30 September 2013, the next annual census will be published in March 2015 showing the position as at 30 September 2014. The Health and Social Care Information Centre also publish monthly National Health Service workforce statistics. The latest data as at September 2014 was published on 17 December.   The information available is set out in the attached table. 



Nurses & Midwives Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.99 KB)

General Practitioners: Pensions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors employed part-time in general practice also drew a pension in each year from 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Most general practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors and not employed by the National Health Service. Therefore, there is no way of designating GPs as part-time or full-time.   The Health and Social Care Information Centre do not hold information on how many new part-time contracts the NHS offered to general practice doctors in each year since 2010. They are also unable to ascertain which contracts are new from their census data. Also, there is no distinct definition of part-time working in the terms of the latest GP contract.

Locums

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors working in NHS hospitals were employed as agency locums, in each year from 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses working in NHS hospitals were agency staff in each year from 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many midwives working in NHS hospitals were agency staff in each year from 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Department does not collect data on how many doctors working in National Health Service hospitals were employed as agency locums nor how many midwives and nurses working in NHS hospitals were agency staff.   Following the Francis[1] report many trusts increased their spend on temporary staffing to meet safe staffing levels.   The Department expects trusts to have a strong grip on their finances, and manage their contract and agency[2] staffing spend responsibly through effective and efficient workforce planning and management. [1] http://www.midstaffspublicinquiry.com/[2]The definition of Contract / Agency staff is: “Agency” employee payments for the employment of staff where the staff remain employees of the agency and “Contract staff” where the NHS trust has control over numbers and qualifications of staff (in contrast to a service obtained under contract) .

Electronic Cigarettes

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the number of e-cigarettes sold in the UK.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the use of e-cigarettes in public places is subject to regulation or control.

Jane Ellison: The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in public places is not subject to regulation or control. E-cigarettes are not caught by smoke-free places legislation under the Health Act 2006. There are no current plans in England to restrict the use of e-cigarettes in public places. Some employers, owners, or managers of establishments and venues have chosen to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes on their premises.   The Department does not currently collect data on the number of e-cigarettes sold in the United Kingdom. From May 2016, the revised Tobacco Products Directive will require manufacturers and importers of e-cigarettes and refill containers to notify the Government prior to placing products on the market.

General Practitioners: Part-time Employment

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new part-time contracts the NHS has offered to general practice doctors in each year from 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre do not hold information on how many new part time contracts the National Health Service offered to general practice doctors in each year since 2010.

Mental Health Services

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for how long each person has been detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in each case where the place of safety was a police cell since 2010; and what the length of wait between assessment and transfer to hospital was in each such case.

Norman Lamb: We do not collect the information requested centrally. However, according to the 2013 joint review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons, the Care Quality Commission and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, an examination of 70 cases across seven police forces showed that the average time spent in police custody under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) was 10 hours 32 minutes.   Section 136 of the MHA allows a person to be detained up to a maximum period of 72 hours in any place of safety. As the MHA Code of Practice (2008) states, irrespective of the 72 hour maximum time limit, any examination and interview or other steps must take place as soon as possible and the length of detention should not exceed the minimum required to enable this to happen.   The Department of Health and the Home Office published a joint review of the operation of sections 135 and 136 of the MHA on 18 December:   https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-operation-of-sections-135-and-136-of-the-mental-health-act   Consideration was given to recommending the creation of a statutory minimum time period for the wait between assessment and transfer to hospital where that is the outcome. However, the review concluded that local agreements should set out a minimum standard for assessments including acceptable time frames.   The review did, nonetheless, recommend reducing the maximum length of detention under Sections 135 and 136 of the MHA to 24 hours from 72 hours, with the possibility of an extension if necessary. Next steps regarding the recommendations for legislative change are subject to the development of a timetable for implementation, a detailed impact assessment, and plans for implementation and future funding being agreed between partners.

General Practitioners: Opening Hours

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to ensure that all GP surgeries are open for at least one evening each week.

Dr Daniel Poulter: All practices are currently offered the opportunity to provide extended hours access, i.e. appointments outside of 8am-6.30pm weekdays, under a Directed Enhanced Service.   The Prime Minister’s £50 million Challenge Fund is currently improving general practitioner access for over four million patients across England. This includes offering evening and weekend appointments, as well as better use of technology.   The Prime Minister recently announced another £100 million of funding for next year to improve access for even more patients.

NHS: Working Hours

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to amend working time rules to give trainee doctors, surgeons and medics additional time to train and practice.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Health Education England is working with the Department to explore the recommendations resulting from the Royal College of Surgeons of England led review of the impact of the Working Time Directive.   The Department, Health Education England and Royal College of Surgeons have agreed a legal framework to assist the identification of time that can be established as training and not work. A joint group of key stakeholders are considering the recommendations of the review and exploring options for the optimal delivery of training within the existing legal framework and that identified by the legal teams.

Mental Health Services

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent per capita on mental health services in each English local authority area between 2009-10 and 2013-14.

Norman Lamb: We do not centrally hold information on how much was spent per capita on mental health services in each English local authority area between 2009-10 and 2013-14.   Information on primary care trust (PCT) mental health expenditure averaged per head of population in each PCT for years 2009-10 to 2012-13, is attached. 



PCT mental health expenditure
(Excel SpreadSheet, 40.77 KB)

Nurses: Pensions

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses employed part-time in NHS hospitals drew a pension in each year since 2010.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many midwives employed part-time in NHS hospitals drew a pension in each year since 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The exact data requested is not held centrally.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent progress has been made in negotiations on the cost of the meningitis B vaccine; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department is continuing to meet with the manufacturer to seek to agree a cost-effective price for the supply of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero®, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. These negotiations will be completed as quickly as practicable.

Cancer: Drugs

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the list of drugs to be assessed at the December 2014 meeting of the National Cancer Drugs Fund panel, when the outcome of the re-evaluation of those drugs will be published.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that it expects to publish the outcome of the National Cancer Drugs Fund panel’s re-evaluation of some cancer drugs imminently.

Ambulance Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of Surge Purples which were called in each ambulance trust in each year since 2010.

Jane Ellison: This information is not collected centrally.   It is the responsibility of ambulance services to ensure that they can provide high quality care, particularly when there are peaks in demand. Surge Purples are part of contingency plans ambulance services have in place to meet such peaks in demand.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the amount (a) budgeted and (b) spent on training courses for Accident and Emergency staff in each year since May 2010.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have taken training courses for Accident and Emergency staff in each hospital trust in each year since May 2010.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Provision and investment in training courses for local Accident and Emergency staff is a matter for local decision based on the needs of the individual organisation.

Ambulance Services

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of occasions on which ambulances answering emergency callouts arrived after the death of the patient in each month since May 2010.

Jane Ellison: No estimate has been made because this information is not collected centrally.

Ebola: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, where testing of samples from patients in Scotland suspected of having Ebola takes place.

Jane Ellison: Since 1 December 2014, Ebola testing facilities are being provided through NHS Lothian by the Scottish National Viral Haemorrhagic Fever Test Service, based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Prior to December, all samples were sent to the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory testing facility at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

Ebola: Scotland

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library copies of the protocols on joint working between the NHS in Scotland and England on Ebola.

Jane Ellison: There are no written protocols on joint working between the National Health Service in Scotland and England which focus specifically on Ebola. NHS England works very closely with colleagues in Scotland and other Devolved Administrations to ensure effective joint working to respond to a wide variety of issues, including Ebola.   NHS England works to the Service Specification for High Level Isolation Units, covering the two high secure units in England located at the Royal Free Hospital in London and the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with both units serving the whole United Kingdom. This specification has been attached.   The Department and the Health and Safety Executive published the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens’ Guidance on “Management of Hazard Group 4 viral haemorrhagic fevers and similar human infectious diseases of high consequence” in November 2014. A copy has been attached. 



Advisory committee on dangerous pathogens
(PDF Document, 917.09 KB)




Service specification- high level isolation units
(PDF Document, 821.49 KB)

Drugs: Licensing

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2014 to Question 216943, what other (a) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and (b) clinical guidance currently addresses the use of off-patent drugs for treating particular conditions; and where in those guidelines such use is addressed.

George Freeman: Off-patent (generic) drugs are widely used in the National Health Service and guidance on their use is included in numerous pieces of guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and also in other sources of clinical guidance such as the British National Formulary, specialty association publications and any local prescribing policies.   This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportional cost.

Ambulance Services: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of trends in frontline London Ambulance Service staff turnover figures in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: This is a matter for London Ambulance Service (LAS) NHS Trust. The NHS Trust Development Authority (NTDA) advises that LAS has seen increases in demand and that this has had some impact on staff retention. However, to address this issue of recruitment and retention the Trust is already taking forward a number of measures.

Drugs: Licensing

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the contribution of 7 November 2014 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Official Report, column 1121, on the Second Reading of the Off-patent Drugs Bill, what steps he has taken to investigate whether non-legislative improvements can be made to support the use of appropriate medicines and benefit NHS patients (a) generally and (b) in the context of off-patent medicines.

George Freeman: We will be discussing this with stakeholders at the roundtable event we are currently convening.

Ambulance Services: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the median response time of the North-West Ambulance Service was to category A calls from March 2014 to the most recent date for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The median response times to treatment, in minutes, for category A calls in the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, March to October 2014 are shown in the following table.   March 20146.1April 20146.1May 20146.1June 20146.2July 20146.6August 20146.3September 20146.3October 20146.5   Source: Ambulance quality indicators, NHS England, www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators   Note: Category A calls are defined as those that are the result of immediately life threatening incidents.

Ambulance Services: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of the London Ambulance Service in the year to 1 November 2014 in relation to Category A response time targets in (a) London and (b) Enfield; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department of Health has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ambulance Services: Greater London

Nick de Bois: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of the London Ambulance Service between 1 September and 30 November 2014 in relation to Category A response time targets in (a) London and (b) Enfield.

Jane Ellison: The Department of Health has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.